Detachable chain-link



(No Model.)

J M, DODGE. DETAGHA'BLB CHAIN LINK. No. 564,057. Patented July 14, 1896. v

WITNESSES 1; I INVENTORl I Noam: vmns ca. Pnm'aumu. wnsnmemn. u. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES M. DODGE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

DETACHABLE CHAIN-LINK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 564,057, dated July 14, 1896.

Application filed April 21, 1894:. Serial No. 508,396. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES M. DODGE, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Detachable ChainLinks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in the chain-link for which I obtained Letters Patent of the United States, numbered 229,978, dated July 13, 1880.

My present invention relates to the method of constructing an open rectangular detachable link, by which it can be cheaply manufactured and readily coupled to the links.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing two of my improved links coupled together. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 3 is a plan view of one of the links. Fig. 4; is a side view of one of the links, and Fig. 5 is a detached perspective view of the detachable bearingblock.

The chain-link shown in the drawings is a type of link known as an open rectangular detachable link,and consists of the side bars a a and end bars I) and cl. The end bar cl is made hollow and has an opening 01 sufliciently large to accommodate the end bar I) of an adjoining link. One-half of this end barb is cutaway at b, as shown in Fig. 3, and near the center is a recess 12 in which rests the head e of the block fof an adjoining link. This block extends to the center of the opening (1, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, and is so shaped as to leave sufficient room for the end bar 6 to play in, yet the end bar will snugly fit between the back of the opening and the head e of the block f, so that the bearing-surface of the several links will be at the pivotpoint. Thus while the chain will stand considerable strain, yet the wearing surface will be diminished to a minimum, as the bearingpoint is at the center.

The block is adapted to a tapered opening in the chain-link, as shown, and is driven in from one end, ribs 6 at each side resting against the inner face of the end bar d and resisting the straining pressure.

The block is transversely tapered, so that it will snugly fit in the openin The parts can be burred, in order to lock one part to the other, if necessary.

The chain-link is provided with flanges a at each side, and the block has also flanges f, alining with the flanges a when the block is in place.

It will be impossible to remove any one of the links without it is in line, as shown in Fig. 2, when it can be slipped out transversely with the bearing-block. Thus by the construction described above I am enabled to make a very cheap chain-link, which will have the least amount of wearing-surface and which can be made much more cheaply than the link described in my aforesaid Letters Patent.

I claim as my invention- 1. An open rectangular detachable link,one of the end bars of the said link having a trans verse opening, a detachable block extending into the opening and forming a bearing for at or near the center, the bar I) being cut away so as to bear upon the block of the adjoining link at or near the center, substantially as described.

, 3. The combination in a chain-link, the side bars a a, end bar I) cut away at the center and having a recess formed therein, an end bar d, a cavity therein for the reception of the end bar I) of an adjoining link, bearingblock f fitting in the end bar (1 and having a bearing-head e projecting to a point near the center of the opening in the bar and having side ribs e to receive the thrust, substantially as described.

4. The combination in a chain-link, of the side bars a a, the cut-away end bar I), the flanged end bar or hub 01 having a transverse opening therein and a tapered recess with a flanged bearing-block adapted to the tapered recess in the end bar 01 and having a ribbed head extending into the opening forming a bearing for an adjoining link, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES DODGE. Witnesses:

WILLIAM A. BARR, JosEPrI H. KLEIN. 

